It amazed Steve the way Wanda integrated into the team so quickly. She completely accepted what she'd seen in Natasha's mind and spent the short flight teasing Sam about things that hadn't actually even happened this time around. Sam took the teasing pretty well, too.
Everything finally felt familiar again. Being with Natasha, Sam, and Wanda on a mission just seemed normal. Steve could tell Natasha was enjoying it, too. During those few years on the run, the four of them had been a family, and he had missed his family q whole lot more than he realized.
"Penny for your thoughts," Natasha said. "You've been awfully quiet."
"Just enjoying the moment, I guess. It feels different this time around. I know it wasn't easy letting Wanda read your mind, but you made the right call."
"It wasn't as hard as I thought it would be honestly, and she did so much more than read my mind, Steve. I made her spar with me this morning. We need her to convince T'Challa to help us, but I remembered how little control she had over her powers when we first met her. I wanted to cover the basics, but it wasn't necessary."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean she did good, Steve. Things we haven't taught her, she knew them. It's like she absorbed the training just by watching the memories of training with us in the other timeline. She's ready."
"Do you think the others were able to do what she did? It would sure make things easier."
"It would, but I'm afraid not. Wanda's abilities must have made her extra sensitive. I sparred with Sam when we were finished. He still needs some work, but I can tell he's been practicing while we were apart. It just wasn't like Wanda."
"So, Wanda seems so much like our Wanda-"
"Because, essentially she is our Wanda. She's happier. Seeing what could have happened and knowing we are going to try to prevent it probably helps with that," Natasha said. "I'm glad the team knows everything now. It feels like we're finally home. I just hope we can complete the mission this time around."
"We will, Nat."
"I've done some reconnaissance on T'Challa's hotel. Okoye isn't with him. I'm sure she's wherever the king is, so that isn't a surprise. It will make things a little easier. T'Challa booked one suite. He brought Nakia. They were still together at this point in the timeline."
"You've sparred with Nakia several times, Okoye too."
"I have and it gives me a serious advantage. I know Nakia's strengths and weaknesses, but she doesn't know mine since, for her, it hasn't happened yet. I'll be able to keep her busy while you and Wanda handle T'Challa. Sam will be close, ready to assist me. We can meet on the quinjet and go from there."
"You're sure you don't want to just have Wanda do her thing at the hotel and skip this kidnapping plan?" Steve asked.
"You saw how hard it was for Tony to accept the reality, and he knew what Wanda could do. Clint and Thor still haven't come out of their rooms. The shock of losing their families was too much for them. T'Challa is going to need some time to come to terms with what we show him. Too much could go wrong in the hotel. We need to get him in the air and give him a chance to think."
"Why am I the leader of the Avengers again? You're the brains."
Natasha laughed. "You're a tactician, too, and the world looks up to Captain America. I'm perfectly content to be your second in command."
"You're way more than that to me, Nat. I think you always were, even before I knew I was in love with you."
"I love you, too. I don't want to relive those 70 years without you again, but I would do it over and over just to be with you one more time. I meant it when I said I'm willing to do whatever it takes."
"I know. Looks like we're landing. Guess it's time to go break a few international laws. You ready?"
"Always," she said, giving him one last kiss.
D.C.
T'Challa's Hotel Lobby
"We need to separate them," Natasha said into the comms. "Steve, offer to buy them a drink. He'll know who you are and assume you're trying to be diplomatic."
"On it." Steve casually walked up to T'Challa and Nakia and introduced himself. "I would love to buy you a couple of drinks and hear a little more about your country, Prince T'Challa. I've always found African culture intriguing. The bar is just over there. Can you spare a few minutes?"
"T'Challa, please. We don't stand on ceremony in Wakanda. I think we can spare a few minutes for Captain America." T'Challa motioned for Steve to lead the way, and Nakia followed closely behind.
They took a table near the back of the bar, and Wanda came to take their order. Steve was impressed with her ability to stay in character. It had taken ages for Natasha to teach the young woman the basics of espionage, but she seemed to have the skills down pat from her time in Natasha's mind. Maybe they should have just had Wanda read their minds the first time around. It was obviously a much more effective method.
When Wanda returned, she spilled one of the drinks on Nakia. "Oh, I'm so sorry," she said. "Let me get more napkins. I'm so clumsy. I can't believe-"
"I think it's going to take more than a few napkins," T'Challa said. "Nakia will need to change. If you'll excuse us, Captain-"
"Steve, call me Steve. Perhaps you and I could have our drink and wait for Nakia to return."
"The prince cannot be in public without a member of the Dora Milaje, Captain," Nakia said, using one of the offered napkins to wipe part of the Liquid from her lap.
"I understand. That's actually a great rule. My job would be a lot easier if every diplomat had someone like you to protect him. Sometimes I feel like I spend half my time just trying to keep VIPs who can't take care of themselves alive."
"I'm perfectly capable of-" T'Challa began.
"Oh, I didn't mean any disrespect. I just mean you wouldn't have the same level of combat skills someone like Nakia or I have, and sometimes situations come up. That's all."
"My level of combat skills are just fine, Captain Rogers," T'Challa said firmly. "Nakia, why don't you go change. I'm sure the captain and I will be just fine."
"T'Challa-" Nakia warned.
"Just fine. Go, get dried off and come back," he said.
"Way to tick off the man with the vibranium," Sam said through the comms. "Nicely done, Cap."
Nakia headed towards the room, and Wanda brought fresh drinks to the table.
Hotel Room
Natasha was waiting when Nakia opened the door to the suite. Immediately, Nakia went on the offensive against the intruder. Natasha just met her move for move without attempting to overtake her for the next several minutes.
Neither woman was even beginning to wear down when Wanda came on the comms. "The drugs have taken affect. We've got him on the quinjet."
"What? Didn't even bother fighting the Black Panther? Getting lazy?" Natasha replied.
"You know things you shouldn't," Nakia shouted, coming at Natasha with a vengeance.
The sudden change took Natasha off-guard and gave Nakia the upper hand for a moment. Natasha was on the ground, and Nakia was about to finish her off. "I know lots of things, and you will, too, in a few minutes. Unless you'd rather fight to the death and risk not seeing T'Challa again, you should probably come with me."
Nakia stopped fighting. "What kind of treachery is this?"
"Necessary treachery," Natasha replied. "You wouldn't believe me if I just told you, but if you're done sparring, I'll take you to T'Challa and you'll understand everything."
Sam walked in as they were talking. "It really would be easier if you just came with us. We're friends. Let's not make this ugly. Widow has a nasty bite, and she'd rather not use it on an ally."
The Quinjet
4 Hours Later
"If what you've shown me is real, you're going to need all the help you can get to go against Thanos. He cannot be allowed to succeed," T'Challa said. Turning to Nakia, he added, "We can't risk letting him win."
"I believe them," Nakia said. "She never tried to hurt me, but it was obvious she knew what moves would disable me. Instead, she just sparred with me as if it were a game. She didn't seem worried even when I had the upper hand. I think they are friends, just like the memories the witch shared."
"So, you'll get us the vibranium?" Steve asked.
"We'll do more than that. We are coming with you," T'Challa said. "I won't risk the fate of my people in any hands but my own."
"Not going to pretend we couldn't use the help," Steve said.
Stark Tower
By the time Fury arrived with Carol and everyone was up to date, Vision was in his vibranium body. Steve looked around the conference room at his friends. They were going in much stronger than they had when they made the successful trip to Thanos's garden. He felt at peace that maybe this time they would win the day without the losses.
The next big hurdle was finding Thanos, but even that wasn't as complicated as it could have been. Conversations with Nebula in the past told them where his main base of operations was located, and Carol knew how to get there. They'd be taking her ship this time around, and if all went well, they'd be able to stop Thanos before he even made his attempt to go after the infinity stones.
"When do we leave?" Clint asked.
"We leave tomorrow," Natasha said, "but you aren't going. We could be gone awhile. You're not missing Nathaniel's birth."
"I'm not risking their lives by staying behind."
"Earth can't be left defenseless, Clint. You're staying and leading the team," Steve said. "Sam, Rhodey, you guys are staying, too. Go get Antman and Wasp. The five of you can handle things here while we're away."
"If things get too crazy, call in Strange," Natasha added. "He prefers to work more in the shadows, but he and Wong would come in a pinch."
"So, this is it then?" Sam said. "If you succeed, the looping is over and we all just live out our lives. If you fail, the next time we see you, we won't even remember any of this."
"Pretty much, but we won't fail," Steve said, squeezing Natasha's hand. "Not this time."
A portal opened into the conference room, and Stephen Strange walked into the room and focused in on Natasha. "It took you long enough to get this far."
"You remember?" Natasha asked.
"This is the closest you've come. I decided I better join you. There's no way back for me and reliving my accident isn't an option, so let's get this right. You were so close. I didn't think I'd have to get involved then you nearly blew it."
"Well, you didn't exactly give a lot of details. You left out some pretty pertinent ones, 70 years worth for me."
"Are you saying you wouldn't have come anyway?"
"No, I would have done it," Natasha admitted. "What did we miss?"
"You were going to leave us behind. You need us. We all go together and win. Somebody call the ant, the wasp, and the spider, so we can get this show on the road."
"Peter's a little young. I don't want to risk his safety. We haven't even met yet," Tony argued.
"He's already Spiderman, and you will keep him safe. The original failure came from a lack of unity. The real success will come from solidarity, so I recommend the archer send his wife a large bouquet of flowers and his apologies. He's going to be a little late, but he won't miss the birth of his son," Strange said. "This is the moment the Avengers have been waiting a for. We must work together."
Not much left in this story folks. Hope you've enjoyed the ride. We will probably finish it off tomorrow.